WNBA: Why did the Golden State Valkyries cut Shyanne Sellers?

One week into the 2025 WNBA season, preseason action has begun, as has the revelation of often-not-great news.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most significant developments:

Valkyries make a quick Sell(ers)

With WNBA teams permitted to invite 20 players to training camp before finalizing their 12-player regular-season roster, cuts are inevitable. And even when a former college star or trusted vet is waived, it shouldn’t be too surprising.

And yet, the Golden State Valkyries found a way to shock. On Saturday, the expansion team announced their first cut: Shyanne Sellers.

Drafted No. 17 overall, Sellers had signed her rookie scale contract and had been medically cleared by Maryland and the Valkyries, fully recovered from the PCL sprain she suffered in mid-January. The explanation given by head coach Natalie Nakase only raises more questions about the move, as she told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews that Sellers “picked up everything we asked her to, did everything that we asked,” but that the Valkyries “have to choose the best 12 that are going to fit. Doesn’t mean it’s the most talented, it means it’s the best 12.”

If Golden State so quickly determined that Sellers wasn’t a fit, why draft her at all, especially as plenty of talented players, some whom will likely sneak onto final rosters, remained available? The decision reeks of a poor scouting process, or a concerning disconnect between the priorities of front office and the coach. On top of that, it’s resulted in poor PR for the team, and while that’s not as important as what happens on the court, it’s not unimportant, especially for a new team looking to establish an invested fan base.

As second-round pick, it would not have be stunning if Sellers did not end up making the final roster; however, to not even take advantage of the opportunity observe a player who Eric Nemchock projected as the No. 6 overall pick in his final mock draft in a few preseason games seems short-sighted, if not dereliction of team-building duty.

Sellers should soon find herself with another opportunity—and with a huge chip on her shoulder. According to Eric’s evaluation, Sellers profiles as the kind of versatile player that smart teams should see valuable, as he noted:

Sellers isn’t a point guard in the traditional sense, but players who can both create shots and distribute the ball at 6-foot-2 don’t grow on trees. Sellers also had a good season shooting the basketball as a senior, knocking down a career-best 40.8 percent of her three-point attempts. If WNBA teams believe that number is for real, Sellers becomes an even better prospect, and she should be able to contribute on both sides of the ball right away.

Sending good vibes to Georgia, Katie Lou

Just like cuts, injuries are inevitably, and unfortunately, going to occur during training camp. The hope is that they’re minor, short-term setbacks.

Washington Mystics rookie Georgia Amoore and Seattle Storm vet Katie Lou Samuelson, however, experienced one of the most brutal injuries, as both players tore an ACL during the season’s first week.

It was encouraging to see Amoore engaged on the Mystics bench during their preseason game against the Indiana Fever, both supporting and learning from her teammates. It seems like the organization and Amoore are invested in making sure this is not a lost rookie season by squeezing out all the positives possible.

Precautionary injury management…hopefully

Preseason injury reports can cause waves of concern to course through fans. A Caitlin Clark leg injury? Marina Mabrey still dealing with her Unrivaled calf injury? Shakira Austin not playing? Breanna Stewart limited in training camp?

Every indication from Clark and Fever head coach Stephanie White suggests her leg injury is not serious. The same seems true for Austin, with Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson noted the team did not want her playing unless she was 100 percent, as well as Mabrey. Stewart is expected to soon be full participant is Liberty training camp.

Additionally, preseason can also offer optimistic injury news, with evidence that players have recovered from any issues experienced last year or during the offseason.

Elsewhere in Liberty world, Sabrina Ionescu, who tore her UCL in the 2024 WNBA Finals, expressed that she is “in the best shape of my life right now.” Rebekah Gardner, who last played in the WNBA in June 2023 when she was a member of the Chicago Sky before tearing her Achilles while playing overseas in February 2024, is on the court for the Liberty—and looking good.

For Gardner’s former team, Angel Reese is showing she’s fully recovered from the hand injury she suffered in the Unrivaled playoffs.

Fingers crossed for only good news—like more a’mazing commercials—as the second week of WNBA preseason begins.